After that letter arrived, the smile on Madam Fu's face vanished completely.
Shen Yueyi initially tried to cheer her up, but then noticed that the atmosphere seemed different from usual, so she obediently retreated to the back courtyard and helped the old lady copy Buddhist scriptures. When You Tong arrived, everyone in the inner room had already left. Madam Shen had just come out from inside and seemed a little surprised to see her, but she didn't say anything.
When You Tong entered, she saw the old lady sitting on the couch with a solemn expression.
Although she was unaware of the news, she sensed the atmosphere was somewhat heavy, so she bowed respectfully.
The old lady pointed to an embroidered stool and gestured for her to sit down. She said, "I've summoned you here today because of an important matter. Wei, you've acted willfully before, hiding in the South Tower seeking your own comfort. I didn't interfere because you're young. But now that you've entered the Fu family and are living in the South Tower, you should assume the responsibilities of a young mistress, assisting your husband and ensuring the stability of the household. This matter is of great importance and cannot be taken lightly. You must act according to my instructions without the slightest negligence!"
Her expression was stern and solemn. She immediately slapped a heavy label on You Tong, causing her heart to tighten slightly. She immediately stood up.
"Your granddaughter-in-law knows what's important, please rest assured, Madam."
Madam Fu stared at her, a rare glint of shrewdness in her cloudy eyes, and nodded after scrutinizing her for a moment.
“Your father-in-law was wounded in the battle against the Tatars and will be returning home soon to recuperate. In addition to seeking medical treatment, he will also need to be nourished with medicinal food. These things—” She took out a folded piece of paper from her sleeve and handed it to her, “will be delivered to the South Tower. After he returns, you should prepare the medicine according to the doctor’s prescription and send it over every day. Do not make a fuss about it, and do not let a word of it leak out.”
These words were truly unexpected for You Tong, and in her surprise, she couldn't help but look up at her.
The old lady also stared at her, her eyes sharp and piercing.
You Tong had seen the old lady's indifference, rage, and perfunctory attitude before, but this was the first time she had seen the fierce look in her eyes.
She vaguely sensed the weight of this matter and immediately stood up, saying, "Since the old lady has entrusted me with such an important task, I, your granddaughter-in-law, will certainly not let her down!"
Do you know what the key point of this matter is?
You Tong stood upright, her fingers slightly clenched.
The Fu family, a powerful force in the region, harbors ambitions to conquer the world, relying on its invincible army of hundreds of thousands. The backbone of this force is Fu Deqing and Fu Yu. The old lady's seriousness suggests Fu Deqing is seriously injured. Even if she isn't favored, at crucial moments, her status as Fu Yu's wife makes her more reliable than outsiders like Shen Yueyi. The old lady's decision to seek her out naturally stems from a sense of entrustment due to her position.
If she dares to betray him, her situation will be perilous.
This was no ordinary matter. You Tong unconsciously revealed a serious expression and carefully put the paper away.
“Since Father has returned to the manor to recuperate, it is clear that his injuries are quite severe. He is the backbone of the Yongning army. Now that my husband is not in the manor, if this news gets out, it may destabilize the morale of the troops. Even worse, it may give those who are eyeing us with ill intentions the opportunity to take advantage of the situation.” You Tong paused and slightly curtsied. “Since the old lady has entrusted me with such an important task, I, your granddaughter-in-law, would never dare to neglect it!”
After he finished speaking, the room became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
The old lady's tense and solemn expression relaxed slightly, and after a moment she said, "You do have some knowledge."
“Zhao’er will hurt her leg in a couple of days. You and Lanyin are close, so go and visit her more often,” she said.
This was a trick to deceive people. You Tong understood and solemnly promised her again, assuring her that she could rest assured.
...
After half a day of tension, the atmosphere in Shou'an Hall returned to its usual harmonious and pleasant state.
Apart from You Tong and Madam Shen, who was in charge of managing the household affairs, the eldest daughter-in-law and Shen Yueyi were obviously unaware of the situation. The old lady showed no sign of anything amiss and chatted and laughed as usual. On the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, she even allowed Madam Shen to take the women to watch the dragon boat races and chat and laugh with the women from prominent families.
Unexpectedly, that evening, while hunting with his entourage, Fu Zhao accidentally fell and injured his leg.
After the incident, the Fu family immediately invited Qin Liangyu over. However, since Fu Yu and Fu Deqing were not present, and Fu Deming was busy with official duties, they declined visits from others and closed their doors to guests. Other families, knowing it was not advisable to disturb or cause trouble in the early stages of an injury, sent people to inquire and express their concern before discreetly returning home.
You Tong, however, knew the trick behind it all. Upon hearing the news, he immediately rushed to Xieyangzhai.
Upon arrival, the maidservants beside Madam Fu stood guard at the door, preventing anyone else from entering. When they saw it was You Tong, they silently let her through.
You Tong went inside. It was quiet, and everyone was speaking in hushed tones. The screen that had been obstructing the entrance had been removed. Inside sat Old Madam Fu, with Fu Zhao beside her, his fists clenched and silent. Fu Lanyin stared anxiously at the bed, her eyes red-rimmed, as if she were trying to hold back tears. Further inside, around the bed were Physician Xu, Qin Liangyu, Qin Jiu, and two men dressed as military doctors.
Through the gaps in the shadows, Fu Deqing lay quietly on the couch, showing none of his usual imposing and powerful demeanor.
You Tong's heart clenched. She tiptoed over and saw through the crack that Fu Deqing's face was pale and his eyes were closed.
Suddenly, her hand was gripped tightly. Looking over, she saw that Fu Lanyin had noticed the movement and taken her hand.
She had clearly only learned of the devastating news today. Respecting her grandmother and others, she dared not show any vulnerability, but when her gaze met hers, tears welled up in her eyes and suddenly rolled down her cheeks. She gripped You Tong tightly, as if only in this way could she suppress the worry and fear in her heart.
You Tong couldn't help but reach out and pull her to lean on his shoulder.
Fu Lanyin's body trembled slightly, tears seeping into her thin spring dress, but she gritted her teeth and refused to utter a sound.
You Tong felt her warm, wet tears welling up more and more, so she gently patted her and comforted her softly, "It will be alright."
The doctors and military physicians spent half a day at the bedside before finally settling Fu Deqing in.
With her extensive experience, Madam Fu remained remarkably calm, leaning on her cane as she led them to a side room.
Upon arrival, the military doctor first reported Fu Deqing's initial injuries and his condition during the journey. Having served in the army for a long time, he was skilled in treating external injuries to bones and muscles, but not so proficient in treating internal organs. Fu Deqing had not only injured his legs and feet but also damaged his internal organs. Although there were doctors treating him diligently, they were not entirely confident of success. Therefore, they had no choice but to carefully prepare a carriage and escort him back to Qizhou.
Although his injuries were brought under control during the journey and Fu Deqing's spirits gradually improved, he still frequently fell into a coma, causing great anxiety.
Upon arriving here, the military doctor finally breathed a sigh of relief. After reporting, he wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.
Then came Physician Xu and Qin Liangyu, who was most skilled at treating internal organs.
Qin Jiu reported on behalf of Qin Liangyu, and then relayed the message to Doctor Xu, discussing how to use the medicine and how to regulate the body, and thus finalized the prescription and the medicinal diet for conditioning the body.
You Tong dared not interfere in these matters until Old Madam Fu handed her the menu of medicinal diets, at which point she inquired in detail if there were any special requirements.
Qin Liangyu then explained the important points, which You Tong silently noted down.
That evening, Physician Xu and several military doctors stayed at the residence, while Qin Liangyu returned home as usual, showing no sign of anything amiss.
Fu Lanyin and her brother were worried about their father and stayed by his bedside. You Tong returned to the South Tower and asked Du Shuangxi to make some soup. Under the pretext of taking care of Fu Zhao, he sent it to Xieyangzhai without taking anyone with him. When they arrived there, Fu Deqing had woken up, but he was not very clear-headed. He was sometimes well and sometimes not. He was served medicine and soup by the military doctor and then fell into a deep sleep again.
This situation is truly nerve-wracking, and one dares not relax for even a moment.
The atmosphere in the entire Xieyangzhai was quite heavy, and Fu Deqing kept falling asleep, his complexion not improving.
As night deepened, Fu Lanyin and her brother stubbornly stayed behind, refusing to leave. The old lady couldn't hold on any longer and went back first. You Tong waited with them for a while, but it wasn't appropriate to stay overnight, so he had to return to the South Building first.
Two days later, Fu Deqing's drowsy spells gradually decreased.
However, he was still not in good spirits and had difficulty even getting up on his own, let alone walking.
You Tong delivered meals to him right on time every day, without the slightest slackening—from the day she married into the family, Fu Deqing had always treated her with great kindness. On the two subsequent family meals, although they didn't exchange many words, Fu Deqing's benevolent and tolerant demeanor truly moved her. Not to mention, he had been seriously injured this time to protect the people, risking his own life to ensure several years of peace on the border.
Such a man is truly admirable.
You Tong, fulfilling her duties as a daughter-in-law, took meticulous care of her child. At Xieyangzhai, she comforted Fu Lanyin and her brother, assuring them not to worry, as their father was strong and healthy and would surely recover soon. However, upon returning to Nanlou, she gradually began to miss Fu Yu—
If he were in the mansion, the Fu family would have the confidence to face any covetousness.
Fu Lanyin and her siblings no longer need to live in constant fear that Fu Deqing might encounter something terrible before he recovers.
In addition, seeing Fu Deqing's severe injuries, my worries grew deeper day by day.
Going into battle meant navigating through a hail of bullets and arrows, an extremely dangerous undertaking. Fu Deqing ventured deep into enemy territory, returning severely wounded. But what about Fu Yu?
The campaign to quell the rebellion was not as unrestrained as when facing the enemy. He was leading his army south alone, unsure of his own situation.
You Tong practically counted down the days until his return. One night, she even dreamt that Fu Yu returned to the South Tower, severely wounded and covered in blood, pale and on the verge of death like Fu Deqing had been that day. She frantically bandaged him, feeling both heartache and worry. Waking up from the nightmare, she felt her chest pounding wildly, a tension and fear she had never experienced since arriving here.
It took her a long time to calm down. She touched the pillow he had slept on and sat there blankly for most of the night.
In the morning, I went to Shou'an Hall to pay my respects. When I heard the old lady going to the Buddhist hall, I followed her in and silently offered incense, praying for her safe return.
She silently endured this worry and concern until the end of May, when she finally heard that Fu Yu had successfully completed his mission and was rushing back on horseback.
You Tong waited anxiously, still following the medicinal diet prescription given by Qin Liangyu, delivering food to Xieyangzhai every day without fail.
As noon passed, Fu Deqing was in good spirits, leaning against a soft pillow, talking to his siblings.
Fu Zhao has been recuperating at home recently, but she hasn't fallen behind in her studies, still reading according to the academy's assignments every day. Fu Deqing, being in a period of rest and recuperation, shouldn't be overworked, so he has some free time to explain historical stories to his children. Seeing You Tong enter, he smiled, put down his book, and told his children to eat first.
Fu Zhao moved the high table next to her, and Fu Lanyin conveniently set out the dishes.
With three people and six hands, they quickly arranged the dishes neatly and moved them in front of him.
Fu Deqing, still recovering from his injuries, couldn't move around too much. Leaning against the soft pillows, he picked up his rice bowl and exclaimed with a smile, "Well, getting injured has turned into a blessing. The dishes at Nanlou are exquisite, even better than the famous dishes at other restaurants. You Tong—you really have a lot of talented people around you." He praised them while finishing his meal without any hesitation.
After spending a long time with him, You Tong felt a touch of fatherly warmth and smiled as she served the soup.
He had only ladled out half a bowl when he suddenly heard hurried footsteps outside the door. In the blink of an eye, someone darted from the courtyard gate into the house. Turning around, the door shook violently, and a dark figure rushed over like a whirlwind, instantly appearing before the bed—a thin, stern face, with sharp, sword-like eyebrows, deep-set eyes tinged with a faint bluish tinge, a rather haggard expression, and short stubble on his chin. Who else could it be but Fu Yu?
He had clearly rushed back day and night, still wearing his fine armor, and even smelled of sweat and dust from days of travel.
The people inside all turned to look.
You Tong's wrist trembled violently, almost causing her to drop the porcelain bowl, as she stared intently at him.
This person rushed in like a whirlwind, full of vigor and strength; he must not have been injured.
The heart that had been hanging in suspense instantly returned to its belly. You Tong looked at that extremely familiar face, her chest pounded again, and she felt a little excited. Her eyes were slightly hot, but she smiled broadly.
In that instant, she realized more clearly than ever how much she longed for this man's safe return.
Chapter 56 Tenderness
Perhaps Fu Yu's return was too sudden, because not only You Tong, but even Fu Deqing stared blankly at his son who had suddenly appeared.
Fu Yu rushed over, his chest heaving slightly, staring intently at him. "How are Father's injuries? Were any vital organs damaged?"
"It's just a minor injury. The first two days were indeed a bit scary, but I'm much better now." Fu Deqing waved his arm, looking relaxed. "If I recover like this for two months, I'll be able to pick up my sword and ride off to kill those old thieves again. You're back quickly. I was thinking that even at the fastest pace, I wouldn't arrive until the day after tomorrow."
"General Han is leading his troops back to the city; I'll go ahead first," Fu Yu explained.
The phrase "getting there first" naturally refers to arriving day and night without sleep. Otherwise, given Fu Yu's vigorous and energetic physique, he wouldn't have developed such sunken eye sockets from exhaustion.
Fu Deqing shook his head helplessly, "He's still too impatient and can't keep his temper in check."
It would be strange if they could keep their cool.
Having been stationed on the border for so many years, how could Fu Yu not know how fierce the Tatar troops were and how cunning those two generals were? The fact that the two sides had joined forces was just like the Fu family and the Prince of Xiping joining forces to fight. How could they be dealt with easily? Fu Deqing had gone deep into enemy territory alone, killing generals and capturing commanders. The dangers he faced were no less than nine deaths and one life. Even with Fu Yu's composure, which would not falter even if Mount Tai collapsed in front of him, he was still terrified when he heard this news.
Even if the letter from home says that Fu Deqing is alright, how could anyone fully believe it?
After the war in the south was quelled and the route for the return army was arranged, they immediately rushed back without stopping.
The anxiety and worry he felt were beyond words. Fu Yu stared at his father in a low voice, and seeing him lying on the bed struggling to move, he immediately noticed something was wrong and said, "Let me check your injuries."
Upon hearing this, You Tong first retreated to the side room with Fu Lanyin, and Fu Lanyin then tactfully pulled her younger brother away.
Fu Deqing's smile darkened slightly. Knowing that Fu Yu would give himself away at the slightest touch, he simply dropped his relaxed demeanor and said, "No need to look. The letter did indeed conceal my injuries. When I was rescued, I was covered in wounds and was unconscious for several days. Although I'm no longer in mortal danger, my back and legs are still quite stiff, and I'll need to rest for a few months. You're so clumsy, don't touch my wounds—I'm afraid of pain."
The room fell silent for a moment. Fu Yu's outstretched hand froze, and it took him a long time to stiffly withdraw it.
"Can you still stand up?"
"Are you cursing me?" Fu Deqing's greatest fear was causing his family to worry. He waved his hand and said, "Once you recover from your injuries, you'll be able to get out of bed and lead troops into battle without hesitation. The reason you're afraid to move now is because you're worried about developing health problems. Besides, Lanyin and Zhao'er are timid. They've been relying on Wei Shi to comfort and reassure them these past few days. If you put on this show, won't they worry even more?"
Fu Yu hadn't slept for several days, and his eyes were bloodshot. He stared at him for a moment before sitting down next to him.